Precision-controlled duty cycle clock circuit

ABSTRACT

A clock signal duty cycle control circuit is provided that receives an incoming signal from a clock signal input source and generates an improved output clock signal having an accurately controlled duty cycle. The circuit controls the duty cycle of the output clock signal by comparing the incoming signal to a reference value in a comparator. The reference value is derived from a reference charge stored on a capacitor. The reference charge is built up in the capacitor using the currents from a current source and a current sink, which are controlled using translated output signals from the comparator.

[0001] This Application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/480,811, filed on Jan. 10, 2000, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to the field of precision-controlled duty cycle clock circuits for use with electronic devices. More specifically, the invention provides a circuit having an adaptive adjustment to improve the controllability of the duty cycle of an output clock signal in response to the changing characteristics of an input clock signal. The invention finds application in a variety of electronic devices, including wireless communications devices.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Many high performance clocked digital circuits require a clock signal with a precisely controlled duty cycle. These types of circuits may use both the high and low phases of the clock signal to perform computations. If, for example, a circuit has the same timing requirements for both the high and low phase of the clock signal, then a clock signal with an accurate 50/50 duty cycle yields the maximum amount of time in each phase of the clock signal for any given frequency. Clock sources with less accurate control over their duty cycle would have to operate at a lower frequency to meet the timing requirements of such a circuit. Hence, clock circuits providing accurate duty cycle control allow either a higher clock rate or a lower core voltage, while still maintaining adequate timing margin for circuits operating from both phases of the clock signal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A clock signal duty cycle control circuit is provided that receives an incoming signal from a clock signal input source and generates an improved output clock signal having an accurately controlled duty cycle. The circuit controls the duty cycle of the output clock signal by comparing the incoming signal to a reference value with a comparator. The reference value is derived from a reference charge stored on a capacitor. The reference charge is built up in the capacitor using the currents from a current source and a current sink, which are controlled using translated output signals from the comparator.

[0007] The duty cycle may be controlled by a reference value generated by building up of charge on a capacitor with a reference current. The charge, which is based on the reference current produced by combining currents flowing from a current sink and current source, produces a voltage across the capacitor. The current source and sink include devices that are programmed during a precharge mode of operation. During programming, the devices memorize a predetermined solution such that during a normal mode of operation the source current is identical to the sink current.

[0008] The invention is described in more detail below in terms of a preferred embodiment. As will be appreciated, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description in view of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a clock signal duty cycle controller coupled between an input clock source and a clocked digital circuit;

[0011]FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred output clock signal generated by the clock signal duty cycle controller of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 illustrates several cycles of an input clock signal to the clock signal duty cycle controller and an output clock signal from the clock signal duty cycle controller;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a preferred clock signal duty cycle controller as shown in FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the current source and current sink section of the clock signal duty cycle controller of FIG. 4;

[0015]FIG. 6A illustrates a waveform representing a voltage input to the clock signal duty cycle controller shown in FIG. 4;

[0016]FIG. 6B illustrates a waveform representing a voltage output from the clock signal duty cycle controller shown in FIG. 4;

[0017]FIG. 6C illustrates waveforms that represent the capacitor currents flowing from a current source and a current sink shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

[0018]FIG. 6D illustrates a waveform that represents a change in charge on a reference capacitor in the clock signal duty cycle controller shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

[0019]FIG. 7 is a circuit architecture of the current source and the current sink shown in FIG. 4 during a precharge mode of operation; and, FIG. 8 is a circuit architecture of the current source and current sink shown in FIG. 4 during a source/sinking mode of operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Turning now to the drawing figures, FIG. 1 sets forth a block diagram of a clock signal duty cycle controller 300 coupled between an input clock source 100 and a clocked digital circuit 200. As shown in this figure, the input clock source 100 transmits a first clock signal 102, preferably a curvilinear signal, to a clock signal utilizing device 200, preferably a clocked digital circuit, via the clock signal duty cycle controller 300. The first clock signal 102 generated by the clock source 100 and placed on path 104 may be poorly conditioned due to unknown DC offsets, unknown amplitudes or an asymmetrical waveform. In contrast, a second clock signal 106 output from the clock signal duty cycle controller 300, preferably a square-wave clock signal, has an accurately controlled duty cycle and adjusts to changes in characteristics of the clock source 100. The second clock signal 106 is placed on path 108 to be used as the clocking signal for the clocked digital circuit 200.

[0021]FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred output clock signal 106 generated by the clock signal duty cycle controller 300. In one clock period (t_(period)), the clock signal 106 includes a high phase signal component (measured in time by t_(H)), a low phase signal component (measured in time by t_(L)), and an uncertainty component (measured in time by t_(X)) Preferably, the clocked digital circuit 200 performs logic processes during both the high phase (t_(H)) 110 and the low phase (t_(L)) 112 of the clock signal 106. Minimizing the uncertainty phase (t_(X)) 114 permits optimization of the duty cycle (t_(H)/t_(L)) of the clock signal 106.

[0022] By maximizing t_(H) and t_(L), the digital circuit 200 can operate at higher clock speeds, it can operate at a lower supply voltage, it can operate at extreme temperatures, or some combination of these parameters. The clock speed, supply voltage, and temperature determine the propagation delay of the digital circuit 200.

[0023] When designing a clocked logic circuit, a circuit designer must assume the worst case scenario for the propagation delay of the circuit. This assumption is based on the maximum amount of time the clock signal needs to spend in either it's high or low phases, and the minimum amount of time that is guaranteed to be present in the associated portion of the clock signal. Accordingly, to accommodate the propagation delay it is desirable to minimize the uncertainty component (t_(X)) in the clock signal. By doing so, the high and low phases 110, 112 of the clock signal 106 can be used with maximum efficiency.

[0024] For example, the clock signal 106 might have a duty cycle (t_(H)/t_(L)) between 40/60 and 50/50, e.g., 40 ns/60 ns and 50 ns/50 ns. In this case, the high phase of the clock signal (t_(H)) could be anything between 40 ns and 50 ns, which results in 10 ns in the uncertainty phase (t_(X)) 114. This time in the uncertainty phase 114 cannot be relied upon when determining worst case scenarios. Hence, a digital circuit 200 must be designed that propagates logic in 40 ns. If the time in the uncertainty phase 114 is reduced to 1 ns, then the digital circuit 200 can be designed to propagate signals in 49 ns, thus permitting a greater degree of freedom for the circuit designer.

[0025]FIG. 3 illustrates several cycles of an input clock signal 102 to the clock signal duty cycle controller 300 and an output clock signal 106 from the clock signal duty cycle controller 300. The dotted line 116 represents a predetermined reference value 116, preferably a voltage reference, that is produced by the clock signal duty cycle controller 300. The reference value 116 is produced such that the time the input signal 102 is above the reference 116 and the time the signal 102 is below the reference 116 represents the desired duty cycle of the clock signal 106.

[0026]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a preferred clock signal duty cycle controller 300 as shown in FIG. 1. This circuit 300 includes a comparator 302, a signal processing device 304, preferably an interpreter, a first current device 400, preferably a voltage controlled current source, and a second current device 500, preferably a voltage controlled current sink. The clock signal duty cycle controller 300 further includes a charge integrator 306, preferably a capacitor, that is coupled to the current source 400 and the current sink 500. The capacitor 306 integrates the charge generated by the net current flow from the current source 400 and the current sink 500. Preferably, the current source 400 and current sink 500 include semiconductor devices. Also, the current source is preferably coupled to a power source P.

[0027] The voltage input (V_(in)) 104 coupled to one input of the comparator 302 is the input clock signal 102. The other input to the comparator 302 is a reference voltage (V_(ref)) 316, which is the voltage generated across the integrator 306. The comparator 302 compares the values of V_(in) 104 and V_(ref) 316, and generates a digital output signal (V_(OUT)) 108 which is either high or low depending on whether V_(in) is greater than or less than V_(ref). The digital output signal (V_(OUT)) 108 is then transformed by the interpreter 304 into an acceptable format for use by the current source 400 and the current sink 500, which are used to generate the reference voltage V_(ref), as described in more detail below.

[0028] In the clock signal duty cycle controller 300, transformed voltages from the interpreter 304 are passed to the current source 400 and current sink 500 along paths 308 and 310, respectively. These voltages are input to the current source 400 and current sink 500, respectively, and control the operation of these current devices as described in more detail below. These controlled currents then flow from the current source 400 and the current sink 500 to the capacitor 306 along paths 312 and 314, respectively. A generated reference voltage V_(ref), which is based on the charge Q_(cap) built up on the capacitor 306, is input through path 316 to the negative terminal of the comparator 302 for comparison against the input clock signal (V_(in)).

[0029]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the current source 400 and current sink 500 sections of the preferred clock signal duty cycle controller 300 of FIG. 4. FIG. 6A illustrates a waveform representing a voltage input (V_(in)), FIG. 6B illustrates a waveform representing a voltage output (V_(out)), FIG. 6C illustrates waveforms that represent the capacitor currents flowing from the current source 400 and current sink 500, and FIG. 6D illustrates a waveform that represents the change in charge on the reference capacitor 306, all in the clock signal duty cycle controller 300 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0030] As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6A-6D, the reference voltage V_(ref) 316 is generated by alternately switching current flow between the current source 400, represented by current I₁, and the current sink 500, represented by I₂, that flows into the capacitor 306. The current source 400 is controlled by the transformed voltage 308 such that it is only on (and thus conducting current I₁) when the input voltage (V_(in)) 104 is higher than the reference voltage (V_(ref)) 116. Similarly, the current sink 500 is only on when the input voltage (V_(in)) 104 is lower than the reference voltage (V_(ref)) 116. Thus, with reference to FIGS. 6A-6D, the capacitor current (I_(cap)) is equal to I₁ during t₀<t<t₁ and it is equal to I₂ during t₁<t<t₂. This capacitor current I_(cap) flows into capacitor 306, which causes a charge Q_(cap) to be stored in the capacitor 306. The generated reference value 116 is the voltage V_(ref) on the capacitor 306, where Q_(cap)=C V_(ref) (where C is the capacitance of the capacitor 306). As shown below in equation [2], the capacitor 306 operates as an integrator of the current flow onto the plates of the capacitor 306.

[0031] When the clock signal duty cycle controller 300 has reached a stable operating point:

ΔQ_(cap)=0 and ΔV_(ref)=0   [1]

[0032] Given that $\begin{matrix} {{\Delta \quad Q_{cap}} = {{\int_{t_{0}}^{t_{2}}{i_{cap}\quad {t}}} = {{I_{1}\left( {t_{1} - t_{0}} \right)} + {\left( {- I_{2}} \right)\left( {t_{2} - t_{1}} \right)}}}} & \lbrack 2\rbrack \end{matrix}$

I ₁*(t ₁ −t ₀)=I ₂*(t ₂ −t ₁)   [3]

[0033] then:

[0034] and: $\begin{matrix} {\frac{I_{1}}{I_{2}} = \frac{\left( {t_{2} - t_{1}} \right)}{\left( {t_{1} - t_{0}} \right)}} & \lbrack 4\rbrack \end{matrix}$

[0035] According to these equations, it can be seen that the duty cycle of the output signal (V_(out)) 108 can be precisely controlled by adjusting the ratio of the magnitude of the current I₁ and I₂ from the current source 400 and current sink 500, since these currents produce reference value 116 (V_(ref)).

[0036] With continuing reference to FIGS. 6A-6D, where 6A-6B are similar to FIG. 3 and are shown for convenience, the values over time for the clock signal voltages 102 and 106 (which are, respectively, coupled to the clock signal duty cycle controller 300 at 104 and 108), the capacitor current 318, and the capacitor charge 320 are shown. As the capacitor charge (ΔQ_(cap)) 320 increases with each successive cycle, the reference voltage (V_(ref)) increases as well. Eventually, V_(ref) 306 increases to a point based on the desired duty cycle such that no additional charge is added to the capacitor 306. At that time, the clock signal duty cycle controller 300 reaches equilibrium. The magnitude of the currents I₁ and I₂ must be accurate in order for their ratio to accurately match the desired duty cycle set out above.

[0037] The matching method, as described in detail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 7-8, “programs” a p-type FET 402, an n-type FET 502, a capacitor 404, and a capacitor 504. In the preferred embodiment, programming refers to storing charge on these capacitors. Programming these devices allows the relative sizes, process variables, and environmental conditions (e.g., temperature) of the circuits in source 400 and sink 500 to be taken into account.

[0038]FIG. 7 is a circuit architecture of the current source 400 and the current sink 500 shown in FIG. 4 during a precharge mode of operation, and FIG. 8 is the same circuit architecture during a source/sinking mode of operation. In the precharge mode of operation shown in FIG. 7, the pFET 402 and the nFET 502 have identical drain-to-source currents (I_(ds)), which is accomplished by adding or removing charge from the capacitors 404 and 504 to modify their voltages (and hence the respective gate-to-source voltages (V_(gs)) of the pFET 402 and nFET 502). Consequently, current I₁ equals current I₂, and current I₂ equals current I_(ref). In an alternative arrangement, subsequent precharge stages could open switches 322, 324, 406, and 506, and then use the pFET 402, the capacitor 404, the nFET 502, and the capacitor 504 as independent current references to program other nFET and pFET sources, which could be placed in parallel to form an integral current source to sink arrangement.

[0039] Programming of the pFET 402 and the NFET 502 during the precharge mode of operation utilizes the physical characteristics of a MOSFET. The main MOSFET characteristic relied upon for programming relates to the gate to source capacitance (C_(gs)) of the pFET 402 and nFET 502. Typically, when this capacitance is charged, the accumulated charge generally does not bleed away for some period of time.

[0040] Programming is performed in the first phase, as follows. During one phase of the clock signal 106, the current source 400 and sink 500 currents are netted against one another such that they cooperatively adapt their level to make sure that the current running through both the source 400 and sink 500 is identically the same. In this phase of operation, the switches 406, 506 and 322, 324 are closed, and the switches 326 and 328 are open. Thus, in the first phase, the source 400 and sink 500 find a “solution” (i.e., charge value) where the current through both devices is the same. This solution is then “saved” onto the gate to source capacitors, C_(gs), (i.e., memory) of the FETs 402 and 502 and capacitors 404 and 504 by opening switches 406 and 506. When the circuits in the source 400 and sink 500 are reconfigured electrically during the normal mode of operation, i.e., the second phase, the current source 400 and the current sink 500 are utilized separately. The solution programmed in the gate to source capacitors C_(gs) of the FETs 402 and 502 and capacitors 404 and 504 during the precharge mode of operation is utilized to deliver currents I₁ and I₂ that are very close in magnitude to one another. Also during the normal mode of operation, the solution is used to correct for any variances in actual FET sizes, processes, or temperatures.

[0041] Physically, the pFET 402 and the nFET 502 are turned on and conduct currents during the precharge mode of operation. This current does not flow out of the current source 400 and sink 500 since the switches 326 and 328 are open. In this case, the capacitors 404 and 504 take on the current and build up charge. Over time, current flows from the positive voltage supply P through FETs 402 and 502, and then to ground. For example, if the charge on the capacitors 404 and 504 is configured to make the pFET 402 more conductive than the nFET 502, currents flow out of the capacitor 404 and into the capacitor 504 to form a balance. Ideally, the voltage V_(mid) formed at the midpoint of the source 400 and sink 500 is half that of the voltage supply P, and the currents I₁ and I₂ achieve a steady state value in order to balance the circuit. The capacitors 404 and 504 are subsequently utilized to produce the reference voltage based on their programmed charge.

[0042] With reference now to FIG. 8, the previously closed switches 322, 324, 406, and 506 in the precharging phase are now opened in the source/sinking mode of the preferred methodology. Also, previously opened switches 326 and 328 are now closed in accordance with signals 308 and 310 from the interpreter, which allows the pFET 402 and nFET 502 to source/sink current on paths 312 and 314. It is to be appreciated that although the preferred embodiment details a circuit with a given duty cycle ratio, namely 1:1, or 50/50, these principles are extendable to other ratios of integer numbers. Accordingly, multiple versions of the current source 400 and/or sink 500 could be programmed, and then placed in parallel to achieve an M:N ratio duty cycle.

[0043] During this mode of operation, a larger gate-to-source voltage (V_(gs)) on the nFET 502 causes the FET to conduct larger currents, thus configuring the NFET 502 as a voltage controlled current sink. The higher the voltage across capacitor 504, the more current the nFET 502 is capable of conducting from drain to source. In this configuration, the gate is connected to the drain of the NFET 502 through switch 506, which is the same configuration for pFET 402 and switch 406. For the pFET 402, an opposite control of its current occurs with respect to voltage on capacitor 404, where the drain to source voltage is in an opposite direction compared to nFET 502.

[0044] Opening and closing of the switches 322-326 and 406 is controlled by translated signals Φx (x=1, 2, . . . ) and Φxn (n=negative or opposite), which are output from the translator 304. These translated signals Φx and Φxn have opposite characteristics in order to control the source 400 and sink 500 switches according to their required parameters. The difference between Φx and Φxn is that Φx is True (ON) when the voltage is high and False (OFF) when the voltage is low, where Φxn is True when the voltage is low and False when the voltage is high. For example, Φ1 would be used to drive the switches 324 and 506, where Φ1 n would be used to drive switches 322 and 406. Also, switch 328 would be driven by Φ2 and switch 326 would be driven by Φ2 n.

[0045] Signals Φx and Φxn are generated from the digital signal leaving comparator 302. These signals Φx and Φxn are voltage-based sub-versions of the clock signal 106, and variances of these sub-versions. In a first instance, these sub-versions require variances of the clock signal for several power supply voltages. There may be signals where the high voltages of a clock signal are represented by a 3V signal, while a lower version of the same signal on a lower voltage power supply may represent the high level by a 1.5V signal. Accordingly, there could be various Φx and Φxn coming out of the voltage translator 304, with different voltage levels representing the high voltage level associated with a corresponding power supply level.

[0046] Although the preferred embodiment of the invention just described utilizes alternating pre-charge and current source/sink modes, it is also possible to have one or more precharge modes followed by one or more current source/sink modes to achieve various ratios of source and sink currents and to provide other functionality based upon the precise ratio of a current source and sink.

[0047] The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes, and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims. 

We claim:
 1. A method of generating a controlled clock signal from an input clock signal, comprising: generating a plurality of control signals based on the controlled clock signal; generating a reference value signal in response to the plurality of control signals; comparing the reference value signal to the input clock signal; and generating the controlled clock signal based on the comparison of the reference value signal to the input clock signal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a reference value signal in response to the plurality of control signals comprises: controlling a plurality of current devices by the plurality of control signals to generate a plurality of currents; and adjusting a charge of a storage device by the plurality of currents to generate the reference value signal.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting a charge of a storage device by the plurality of currents to generate the reference value signal comprises adjusting a charge of a capacitor.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein generating a reference value signal in response to the plurality of control signals further comprises adjusting the magnitude of the reference value signal to correspond to a duty cycle ratio.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the magnitude of the reference value signal to correspond to a duty cycle ratio comprises placing a subset of the plurality of current sources in parallel to achieve the duty cycle ratio.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein controlling a plurality of current devices by the plurality of control signals to generate a plurality of currents comprises: generating a first current of a first magnitude and a first polarity; generating a second current of the first magnitude and a second polarity, the second polarity opposite of the first polarity.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a plurality of control signals based on the controlled clock signal comprises: defining first and second states for each of the plurality of control signals; and pairing the plurality of control signals so that a first control signal is in an opposite state of a second control signal for each of the first and second states.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein generating a plurality of control signals based on the controlled clock signal further comprises translating the controlled clock signal into the first and second control signals.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the reference value signal to the input clock signal comprises directly comparing the input clock to the reference value signal.
 10. A method of generating control currents in a control circuit, comprising: defining a first operation mode; storing reference signals in a plurality of storage devices during the first operation mode; defining a second operation mode; and selectively generating control currents in response to the stored reference signals and control signals.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein storing reference signals in a plurality of storage devices during the first operation mode comprises: for each storage device: coupling a gate of a transistor to a source of the transistor; coupling a capacitor to the gate of the transistor and one of a voltage supply or ground; maintaining the coupling of the gate of the transistor to the source of the transistor until a voltage across the capacitor is equal to a desired magnitude; and decoupling the gate of the transistor from the source of the transistor when the voltage across the capacitor is equal to the desired magnitude.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the capacitor is a gate-to-source capacitance of the transistor.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: grouping the storage devices into pairs; and wherein selectively generating control currents in response to the stored reference signals and control signals comprises: generating a first control current of a first magnitude and a first polarity in response to a first stored reference signal and a first control signal; and generating a second control current of the first magnitude and a second polarity in response to a second stored reference signal and a second control signal, the second polarity opposite of the first polarity.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: generating the first and second control signals based on a controlled clock signal; generating a clock reference value signal in response to the first and second control currents; comparing the clock reference value signal to the input clock signal; and generating the controlled clock signal based on the comparison of the clock reference value signal to the input clock signal.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein generating a clock reference value signal in response to the first and second control currents comprises adjusting a capacitor charge by the first and second control currents.
 16. A clock circuit, comprising: means for generating a plurality of control signals based on the controlled clock signal; means for generating a reference value signal in response to the plurality of control signals; means for comparing the reference value signal to the input clock signal; and means for generating the controlled clock signal based on the comparison of the reference value signal to the input clock signal.
 17. A clock circuit, comprising: means for defining a first operation mode; means for storing reference signals in a plurality of storage devices during the first operation mode; means for defining a second operation mode; and means for selectively generating control currents in response to the stored reference signals and control signals.
 18. A clock signal duty cycle controller, comprising: a comparator configured to receive an input clock signal and a reference signal, and to output a precision controlled duty cycle clock signal; means for generating a plurality of charge adjusting currents in response to the precision controlled duty cycle clock signal and coupled to the output of the comparator; and a reference charge storage circuit operable to receive the plurality of charge adjusting currents and to generate the reference signal.
 19. The clock signal duty cycle controller of claim 18, wherein the means for generating a plurality of charge adjusting currents in response to the precision controlled duty cycle clock signal comprises: 